The Edible Garden Show and Good Life Live are set to bloom

London – February 16, 2016: As more than half (56%*) of Brits are planning to grow their own in 2016, the UK's only national show dedicated to inspiring gardeners will be back encouraging people to dig for their dinner plate.

The Edible Garden Show, alongside Good Life Live, is returning to Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, between 11-13 March with eleven interactive feature areas and a huge variety of experts as well as over 150 exhibitors sharing their passion for grow your own.

In the Experts Theatre Pippa Greenwood will explain how to grow great veg while avoiding any nasties that can ruin your crops and James Wong will share his simple scientific tips and tricks to supercharge the flavor and nutrient content of both home grown and shop brought crops. On Friday and Saturday the BBC’s Big Allotment Challenge floral expert Jonathan Moseley will be thrilling visitors with his own amazing displays for Easter, Spring and Summer. On Sunday BBC One Show’s resident gardening expert Christine Walkden will be on hand offering spades of advice.

In association with Kings Seeds and the National Allotment Society, the Potting Shed will be the place to get one-to-one advice, undergo a crash course in growing chillies, learn about starting a new plot and the latest innovations as well as hot composting. It will also feature talks from ITV’s Love Your Garden presenters Katie Rushworth (Friday) and Frances Tophill (Sunday) as well as Sally Morgan who’ll be showing visitors you don't need a huge parcel of land to live more self-sufficiently. Meanwhile Mandy Barber from Incredible Vegetables will be inspiring visitors to grow unusual, ancient perennial varieties of vegetables and herbs while tech-savvy blogger Sean Cameron will be discussing how to make a living from writing.

Once you’ve learned how and what to grow, Rachel Green and Mark Lloyd are among the famous chefs providing chic ideas for conjuring yummy, healthy meals from plot to plate in the Cook It! Make It! area. Rachel comes from a long line of farmers and is passionate about food production and making the best of what we grow. Mark set up the River Cottage Canteen with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and is a great believer in using every part of the animal from nose to tail. You’ll also find Di Hammil of Wild Harvest will be running some ‘have-a-go’ sessions on making bath bombs and rag rugging to add to the fun.

Elsewhere the British Pig Association (BPA) and Rare Breed Survival Trust will be bringing all the fun of the farm to the show as organisers bring back the Smallholders Zone to showcase rare breeds alongside the usual popular animals. So, if you’re new to selecting, handling or breeding pigs the BPA will share all the information required on feeding, housing and any legal obligations. Children in the audience will even be invited to join in a fantastic demonstration by the members of the Junior Pig Club.

The ‘egg-cellent’ dedicated poultry area — The Smallholder Range Chicken Coop — will be an exciting and interactive area promoting the responsible keeping and breeding of poultry in a fun an informative environment. Poultry Talk will be providing its popular educational displays where you can meet their new chicks and get your hands on their brand new handbook providing everything you need to know about poultry. Its children’s area will be brimming with fun activities aimed at teaching youngsters about poultry.

Parents can also entertain their busy little bees in the Beehive - an interactive feature in association with the British Bee Keepers Association highlighting the importance of bees in the environment and promoting amateur bee keeping.

And if you need to take a few minutes out, why not have a field day on the Virgin Wines Village Green and indulge in one of their exclusive wine tastings.

Don’t forget, those attending on the Saturday can also apply for free tickets to be in the audience of BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, which is to be broadcast from The Edible Garden Show & Good Life Live. To enter please email your name, postal address and contact telephone number to gqt@bbc.co.uk with email subject: Ticket draw.

The Edible Garden Show and Good Life Live Event Director Geraldine Reeve says: “Each year the shows grow. People really seem to like them as there’s genuinely something for everyone to enjoy. No matter if you’re a novice, an expert or are just seeking a great family day out, once again it will be brimming with a huge crop of exciting exhibitors as well as some great interactive sessions to get your hands dirty. You really can’t help walking away feeling truly inspired and with all the products you need to get growing.”

For more information about this great value for money family day out where under 5s are free visit: www.theediblegardenshow.co.uk

FOR MORE INFORMATION, IMAGES, COMPETITIONS OR TICKET OFFERS, CONTACT
PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES ON: T: +44 (0)1420 22532 or theediblegardenshow@paulsmithassociates.co.uk

*Results are from a OnePoll survey of 1,000 UK residents commissioned by The Edible Garden Show.

PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
16th February 2016